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FORMER GOVERNOR DOUGLAS WILDER TO SPEAK AT HAMILTON

Douglas Wilder, former governer of
Virginia will speak at Hamilton College on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m in the
Chapel. Wilder will discuss "Social and Political Challenges of the 1996
Election. The talk is free and open to the general public.

In 1990, Wilder became the first elected African-American governor in U.S.
history. Notably, his election occurred in a state that was once a cornerstone
of the Confederacy and that had once denied Wilder admission to its law
schools.

Wilder graduated from Virginia Union University in 1951. He served in the
U.S. army during the Korean War he received the Bronze Star for heroism. After
the war, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill to study law but earned his degree
at Howard University Law School in Washington D.C. because Virginia barred
blacks from its law schools at that time. A 20-year veteran of Virginia
politics, Wilder served as a state senator and as lieutenant governor prior to
being elected governor. His gubernatorial term expired in 1992, and he failed
in an effort at re-election.

Since leaving office, Wilder has remained involved in current events by
hosting a morning radio talk show in Richmond, Va., and also hosting "The Doug
Wilder Show," a weekly television program that airs on a Washington-area cable
station.

Wilder's appearance is sponsored by the Root-Jessup Public Affairs Council.